Extra Days Holiday (The Golden Jubilee)

Member Name: forrest

Product:	The Golden Jubilee
Date:	07/02/02 (96 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: May bring people together, Is a part of History

Disadvantages: May be costly, may fail

Now from that title you might think that I am against the Monachy, well I am not. I do think that there is a historical and current value of the Monachy although the values to the country are completely different.

With regards to this years coming event of the Queens Golden Jubilee there is constant reference to the wonderful celebrations of 1977. Yes I was there, aged 5 and a half (so it said on my school work) wearing a soilders uniform. Red coat, Buzbie and black trousers with my wooden rifle made by my Grandad. The street was closed off and there was food and drink well into the night (well I think I fell asleep about 8, but then that was the middle of the night wasn't it???

Now in true Marty McFly style "Back to the Future" and the big question "will it work again". Sadly I think NO.

Peoples attitudes and environments have changed dramatically over the last 25 years. Every day on the tube you see hundreds of people keeping to themselves, not talking. Neighbours over the casual nod of the head in acknowledgement barely a word spoken. Streets now have large numbers of cars. People have other things to do or wish to be with their families street parties would stop you being able to drive anywhere. Plus probably the strongest reason is the larger number of anti royalists in the country. Before anyone starts shouting I am not having a go at them, merely trying to point out that they would be the least likely supporters of a Royal event.

So what are the government doing to try and persuade people in the belief that a street party is the way to go? Extra bank holiday and cash, plus a belief that it can be like the good old days. Forgive me if my history is wrong (I was only 5) but there didn't appear to be the violence, riots, etc back in the late seventies on the scale and frequency there are now. How will an event like this be bought together amoung people that cannot get along on a daily basis? The oth
er thing that is needed is someone to organise the day. Who wants the hassle, the pressure and the disappointment (if it goes wrong) of arranging a day like this, even if the money that is to be shared out covers the day and people don't have to put their hand in their pocket. People are always quick to condem something as a failing (we have a great example in the dome) nice idea, wrong solution, but we are poor at doing anything to actually try to improve or to assist.

I would like to think that there will be some form of celebration on the day, provided that it isn't rammed down our throats between now and then so that we are sick of it by the time it happens. But I still believe that people are too busy with their own lives to join a celebration on the scale of those experienced across the country in my youth (blimey I am sounding old now)

To all those that do decide to participate and expecially to those who organise events I wish you all the success and happiness for the day. I also hope that most of my points are wrong, people never cease to amaze :@)

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